Usung a href Tag, open the linked file in associated editor

Question

Hi,
I have a functionality where a file location would be fetched from the database, shown to the user as a hyperlink. On clicking the hyperlink the file should open in its associated editor i.e if it is a .doc it should open in word, if it is an xls it should open in Excel.
I tried different ways but its opening in the IE browser itself ,Is there a way that it opens up in its associated editor.
Infact even if it opens in browser its ok, but then if a user modifies the xls and tries to "SAve AS" the pop up does not appears to save the file.How can i get the pop up so that user can save the modified file in it local computer.

Answer 1

Hi ,
Thanks a lot. What i have done is
File excelFile = new File("\full file name");
ServletOutputStream out = res.getOutputStream ();
// Set the output data's mime type
//res.setContentType( "application/text" ); // MIME type for pdf doc
res.setContentType( "application/vnd.ms-excel");
// create an input stream from fileURL
String fileURL =
full file name";
// Content-disposition header - don't open in browser and
// set the "Save As..." filename.
// *There is reportedly a bug in IE4.0 which ignores this...
res.setHeader("Content-disposition",
"attachment; filename=\"file name\"");
// PROXY_HOST and PROXY_PORT should be your proxy host and port
// that will let you go through the firewall without authentication.
// Otherwise set the system properties and use URLConnection.getInputStream().
BufferedInputStream bis = null;
BufferedOutputStream bos = null;
try {
// Use Buffered Stream for reading/writing.
bis = new BufferedInputStream(new FileInputStream(excelFile));
bos = new BufferedOutputStream(out);
byte[] buff = new byte[2048];
int bytesRead;
// Simple read/write loop.
while(-1 != (bytesRead = bis.read(buff, 0, buff.length))) {
bos.write(buff, 0, bytesRead);
} catch(final Exception e) {
System.out.println ( "Exception" );
throw e;
} finally {
if (bis != null)
bis.close();
if (bos != null)
bos.close();
This is the code for excel, and its doing what i needed.
I havent tested it for other formats hopefully it would work. :)